Ani DiFranco — Back, Back, Back
Album: To The TeethAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 483
Length: 4:45
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Back back back in the back of your mind
Are you learning an angry language,
Tell me boy boy boy are you tending to your joy
Or are you just letting it vanquish
Back back back in the dark of your mind
Where the eyes of your demons are gleamin
Are you mad mad mad
About the life you never had
Even when you are dreaming.
Who are these old old people
In these nursing homes
Scowling away at nothing
Like big rag dolls just cursing at the walls
And pulling out all of their stuffing
Every day is a door leading back to the core
Yes, old age will distill you
And if you're this this this full of bitterness now
Some day it will just fill you
When you sit right down in the middle of yourself
You're gonna wanna have a comfortable chair
So renovate your soul before you get too old
Cuz you're gonna be housebound there
When you're old you fold up like an envelope
And you mail yourself right inside
And there's nowhere to go
Except out real slow
Are you ready, boy, for that ride?
Your arrogance is gaining on you
And so is eternity
You better practice happiness
You better practice humility
You took the air, you took the time
You were fed and you were free
Now you'd better put some beauty back
While you got the energy
You'd better put some beauty back, boy
While you got the energy
Are you learning an angry language,
Tell me boy boy boy are you tending to your joy
Or are you just letting it vanquish
Back back back in the dark of your mind
Where the eyes of your demons are gleamin
Are you mad mad mad
About the life you never had
Even when you are dreaming.
Who are these old old people
In these nursing homes
Scowling away at nothing
Like big rag dolls just cursing at the walls
And pulling out all of their stuffing
Every day is a door leading back to the core
Yes, old age will distill you
And if you're this this this full of bitterness now
Some day it will just fill you
When you sit right down in the middle of yourself
You're gonna wanna have a comfortable chair
So renovate your soul before you get too old
Cuz you're gonna be housebound there
When you're old you fold up like an envelope
And you mail yourself right inside
And there's nowhere to go
Except out real slow
Are you ready, boy, for that ride?
Your arrogance is gaining on you
And so is eternity
You better practice happiness
You better practice humility
You took the air, you took the time
You were fed and you were free
Now you'd better put some beauty back
While you got the energy
You'd better put some beauty back, boy
While you got the energy
Comments (62)add comment
I really like this!
Rooney wrote:
That can be said for so many of the artists getting a"alternative" radio play.
At least with Ani Defranco, I like some of her stuff. This is the first time I've heard this, and it's not bad.
I wish I could understand why she catapulted into alternative music fame. Don't get her.
That can be said for so many of the artists getting a"alternative" radio play.
At least with Ani Defranco, I like some of her stuff. This is the first time I've heard this, and it's not bad.
I dig this album a lot - glad to hear this track on RP. Ani's recordings started maturing around this time. I particularly like "Arrival's Gate."
(anonymous) wrote:
I've always loved To The Teeth and this song. Dilate is a close second for me. This isn't jazz, it isn't funk per se, it's Ani's album with Maceo. She's authentic and often challenging. This song's lyrics speak to me, and remind me of dear old mother as she folded up. She would've liked the lyrics at least. I wonder what a muzak version of this or any Ani song would sound like?
There's something about her work that speaks to me very deeply. What I feel is a spark of recognition on the first listen to each of her tunes.
Those who are looking to pick up an Ani cd might check out
"Living in Clip," a live double cd set, which has spent a lot of time in my CD player.
I've always loved To The Teeth and this song. Dilate is a close second for me. This isn't jazz, it isn't funk per se, it's Ani's album with Maceo. She's authentic and often challenging. This song's lyrics speak to me, and remind me of dear old mother as she folded up. She would've liked the lyrics at least. I wonder what a muzak version of this or any Ani song would sound like?
Rooney wrote:
She's very liberal and "fights the power"......that's one reason. Her music bores me, though.
I wish I could understand why she catapulted into alternative music fame. Don't get her.
She's very liberal and "fights the power"......that's one reason. Her music bores me, though.
dogpound wrote:
agreed and totally over rated.
Amen.
agreed and totally over rated.
Amen.
I wish I could understand why she catapulted into alternative music fame. Don't get her.
Strangely I completely agree with both the people who can't stand her music, and with the ones who quite enjoy it. Either way, I saw her in concert and enjoyed it at the time. However, even an hour after the show, I felt like it didn't really leave much of an impression. Hmm.
All the effort just doesn't add up to music, let alone funk....
Is that Maceo Parker? Sure sounds like 'im.
ETA: AMG says...yes!
ETA: AMG says...yes!
unclelonghair wrote:
she's so less everything than she thinks she is.
Ani Difranco is so less funky than she thinks she is. At LEAST she ISN'T over-SINGING every OTHER word IN this SONG.
she's so less everything than she thinks she is.
Ani Difranco is so less funky than she thinks she is. At LEAST she ISN'T over-SINGING every OTHER word IN this SONG.
I was a huge Ani fan in the 90s, and she started really disappointing me from Little Plastic Castles on. So much lame horn. I don't like to begrudge an artist her evolution, but I do selfishly wish she would get back to her roots.
I'm feeling a Curtis Mayfield vibe in Ani's voice
I must agree with the mandolin wrote:
...some of the less-annoying ani difranco that i've heard...
I love this album!
crockydile wrote:
Would you give us the chance to miss you? No, really...
I'm supposed to take this boppy scat stuff seriously? It's like joke music. My kids would laugh at it. Just plain silly. 
Would you give us the chance to miss you? No, really...
Don't know Ani D, but this got me moving straight away, might check out more, 8
...some of the less-annoying ani difranco that i've heard...
All of the negative comments for someone who told the music industry to shove it about 20 years ago, is highly talented and a great live show.
Chick music. Right up my ally! I love anything Ani does.
That is Maceo Parker (James Brown's horn man) on sax
great Ani disc!
great Ani disc!
I'm supposed to take this boppy scat stuff seriously? It's like joke music. My kids would laugh at it. Just plain silly.
Not too bad for Ani, whom I usually loathe.
Detective oooooooooooooooRecognition, it's what I want. Sometimes I hear a song within a song..this was one of those times. 
You cannot deny the funk.
Besides being a sick songwriter and guitar player, Ms. D. surely does work herself into some rare grooves.
Besides being a sick songwriter and guitar player, Ms. D. surely does work herself into some rare grooves.
Sullen wrote:
agreed and totally over rated.
I really can't stand anything Ani does...just isn't my thing.
agreed and totally over rated.
Ani clearly has a jazz pedigree.
bokey wrote:
I think this is the best summary of Ani DiFranco's music I've ever read.
Me either. I've heard 3 songs and they've all been pretty much raucous, discordant noise. I mean she sounds like she's having fun, but pigs rolling around in the mud are having fun, and they make cute squeally noises too. I'm going to check out some of her lyrics, and I expect to find a lot of trumped up bogus pseudo controversial crap to cover up the glaring lack of musical ability.
I think this is the best summary of Ani DiFranco's music I've ever read.
Mmmm, this was quite good. More, please
I really can't stand anything Ani does...just isn't my thing.
...ninety-nine point nine percent of ani difranco really is not my thing, and this song isn't part of the other tenth of a percent...
Excelsior wrote:
Playing this crap is inexcusable. 
Sounds like someone hasn't evolved very far in his or her appreciation of jazz, which really this song is IMO.
Excelsior wrote:
Playing this crap is inexcusable.
Anyone get the feeling Excelsior is very young, 13 maybe?
Ah no, I see a twenty something with that generation's case of arrested development.
volume down
Playing this crap is inexcusable.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
And you feel the need to mention this because... ?
"She is on a high horse. All men arent so bad, Ani." this person is responding to this comment...
I like Ani Difranco...starting right now. She made me drop into RadioParadise.com to check out her album, while I cranked up the tunes.
Her music is kinda clever, nicely different. Could I listen to it all the time? not necessarily, but its happy music, orchestrated with on stage instruments...kinda cool.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Said it before, I love the idea of Ani Difranco. The execution, though, is painful.
Love her song "Perfect Fingers."
bokey wrote:
Check out some of her earlier stuff; much more tonal. And she's a hellofa guitar player.
Me either. I've heard 3 songs and they've all been pretty much raucous, discordant noise.
I mean she sounds like she's having fun, but pigs rolling around in the mud are having fun, and they make cute squeally noises too.
I'm going to check out some of her lyrics, and I expect to find a lot of trumped up bogus pseudo controversial crap to cover up the glaring lack of musical ability.
Check out some of her earlier stuff; much more tonal. And she's a hellofa guitar player.
nobody asked me,,,but ,no. 
This tune is not one of my faves of Ani's, but overall I've always liked her stuff.
Saw her open for Dylan @ Tanglewood some years back. Good show.
Said it before, I love the idea of Ani Difranco. The execution, though, is painful.
bokey wrote:
*when you sit right down in the middle of yourself, you're gonna wanna have a comfortable chair.....* indeed! SING IT ANI!!! :)
Me either. I've heard 3 songs and they've all been pretty much raucous, discordant noise.
I feel the same way. She was played endlessly in Santa Fe & has a loyal fanbase. But I just can't get into her....Sorry Ani, I tried
Relayer wrote:
I just can't get into Ani at all.
Me either. I've heard 3 songs and they've all been pretty much raucous, discordant noise.
I mean she sounds like she's having fun, but pigs rolling around in the mud are having fun, and they make cute squeally noises too.
I'm going to check out some of her lyrics, and I expect to find a lot of trumped up bogus pseudo controversial crap to cover up the glaring lack of musical ability.
apathy wrote:
Very, very Ani. BTW, she doesn't just speak for women. The message does cross gender lines.
And you feel the need to mention this because... ?
Made me laugh.
one of the best songs off this fabulous album!
this is rocking.. the more I hear of her the more I like it...
I love Ani and even though this is one of my least favorite songs of hers, I still love it...
Very, very Ani. BTW, she doesn\'t just speak for women. The message does cross gender lines.
Those who are looking to pick up an Ani cd might check out
"Living in Clip," a live double cd set, which has spent a lot of time in my CD player.
Oh yeah! Mine too!
I support the idea of Ani Difranco, but I find her music to be ... grating. A lot of her lyrics read like private jokes meant for close friends. This may explain her cult status.
I just can\'t get into Ani at all.
The love for- and the joy of making music comes across very much, listening to Ani Difranco. That's what I highly appreciate.